Issue #03 - July-September 2021
- Discover their stories -
- Understand their sacrifice -
- Honour their legacy -
HWT NEWS
(news@historicwartours.com.au)
This issue commences on a sad note with the passing of the last member of the RAF 617 “Dambusters” Squadron. We also review North Queensland’s Afghanistan Avenue of Honour which remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war in Afghanistan. Plus, we pose the question “What did the Japanese do with all the POW’s captured during the Fall of Singapore and shortly thereafter?”. Finally, we reflect on an air crash which had the largest loss of life in the Southwest Pacific during WWII and still remains Australia’s greatest air disaster.
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Last of the Dambusters Passes
Benny and his crew in front of their Lancaster Bomber
18th July 2021, saw the sad passing of Lawrence “Benny” Goodman, at the age of 100. Benny was the last of the famous RAF 617 “Dambusters” Squadron. In WWII, he piloted the Avro Lancaster Bomber in raids destroying the Mohne and Eder Dams using the amazing bouncing bomb. In other famous exploits, using the 22,000lb Grand Slam Bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb to be used in WWII, Benny participated in the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz, the destruction of the Arnsberg Railway Viaduct and the partial destruction of the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain retreat. In all, he completed 30 missions.
Although he retired in 1946, Benny rejoined the Air Force in 1948 and flew in the Berlin Airlift. During the Korean War he operated transport aircraft returning injured soldiers back to Britain. He finally retired in 1964 after 24 years of service in the RAF.
R.I.P. Benny, Thank you for your service.
Photo & Story: https://thetimes.co.uk/article/lawrence-benny-goodman-obituary-ht6d9przq
The Afghanistan Avenue of Honour, Yungaburra (NQ)
The Entrance and 250m pathway to the Central Monument
The lust green of tropical North Queensland and the cooling waters of Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tableland could not be any further removed from the desert like conditions that we associate with Afghanistan. But at Yungaburra, about 15 kilometres east of Atherton on the shores of Lake Tinaroo, is The Afghanistan Avenue of Honour (“Avenue”). Born from the passing of local Private Benjamin Chuck in 2010 in Afghanistan, the Avenue was opened in October 2013 as a lasting tribute to all the Australian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Afghanistan.
The Avenue comprises three main elements: 1) The entrance and 250m pathway to the Central Monument, 2) The Central Monument and Honour Board (containing a plaque for each of the fallen soldiers) and 3) the journey home leading away from the Monument.
The Avenue has become an important ceremonial site for the Anzac Day Dawn Service and the Remembrance Day Service. It is also a popular tourist destination allowing the visitor to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice the fallen have made for our country, in all wars and conflicts.
Central Monument
Honour Board
POW’s sweeping the streets of Singapore
Prisoners of the Japanese
Following the Fall of Singapore, over 120,000 Allied and Dutch soldiers became prisoners of the Japanese (POW’s). The Japanese were not signatories to the Geneva Convention which included rules on the treatment of POW’s. As a result, thousands of POW’s would die of disease, cruelty, mistreatment, execution and in some cases, ‘friendly fire’. So what did the Japanese do with all these all these POW’s?
Crash of the B-17C Flying Fortress at Bakers Creek, Mackay
Early on a foggy morning in June 1943, a war weary B-17C of the USAAF, took off from Mackay Airport (Queensland), bound for New Guinea. It climbed through the fog layer and levelled out before commencing two left hand turns. Then suddenly, it plunged into bushland near Bakers Creek, about 8kms to the south of Mackay. A fireball erupted and all but one of the 41 occupants onboard, were killed. It was and remains today, Australia’s worse aviation disaster. How could this happen and why did we not know about it?
B-17C Flying Fortress Crash Memorial, Bakers Creek
Researcher Recognised
Expert jungle trekker, Tham Yau Kong (left) has received a letter of commendation from Australia’s Honorary Consul (far left) to Sabah (Borneo) in recognition of his work in rediscovering and promoting the route of the Sandakan-Ranau Death March.
In 1942 and 1943, nearly 2,500 Australian and British POW’s were sent to Sandakan by the Japanese, to build airstrips and roads. In January and May 1945, the survivors were forced on a 265km journey to Ranau which resulted in all dying except for six Australians who managed to escape.
After the war, the route became overgrown and some places turned into farming land. Using a hand drawn 1947 map from the Army Bodies Recovery Team, Tham was able to retrace the route and now promotes the memory of all those who died in this atrocity by guiding those interested in this historical war trail.
Source: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2021/expert-trekker-retraces-death-march-trail/
Congratulations
Congratulations to 'Greg O' for winning the subscription draw of a 5% discount for one adult on any of the tours with Historic War Tours. Greg has been notified and we look forward to Greg joining a tour once Australia's borders reopen.
The competition has now ended.
